Money & Payment in Phú Quốc
Vietnam’s currency is the Việt Nam Đồng (VND). The commonly circulated banknotes are:
1,000 VND, 2,000 VND, 5,000 VND (paper, cotton-based) — lower denominations mostly used in very small purchases
10,000 VND, 20,000 VND, 50,000 VND, 100,000 VND, 200,000 VND, 500,000 VND — polymer material for all except the very smallest ones; these higher notes are durable and harder to counterfeit.
Exchange Rates (approximate, Sep-2025)
United States Dollar (USD) = ~ 26,400 VND
Euro (EUR): ~ 28,500 VND
British Pound (GBP): ~ 33,000 VND
Russian Ruble (RUB): ~ 350 VND
Chinese Yuan (CNY): ~ 3,600 VND
Japanese Yen (JPY): ~ 180-200 VND
South Korean Won (KRW): ~ 20-25 VND
Singapore Dollar (SGD): ~ 19,500 VND
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD): ~ 3,350 VND
Taiwan Dollar (TWD): ~ 800-900 VND
Indian Rupee (INR): ~ 320 VND
Australian Dollar (AUD): ~ 17,000 VND
Malaysian Ringgit (MYR): ~ 5,500 VND
On menus or signage, you’ll often see prices written skipping the last three zeroes (“k”) — e.g. “490k” instead of 490,000 VND, or “36k” for 36,000 VND.
Exchanging Money
Airports & Banks: Exchange counters at the airport and banks in Dương Đông tend to offer safe if not the best rates.
Jewelry Shops: Sometimes better rates than banks, but risk of less transparency.
Hotels & Resorts: Possible but usually less favourable exchange rates.
ATMs & Cash Withdrawals
Many ATMs in Dương Đông, An Thới, and around major resorts.
Visa & MasterCard widely accepted; some machines have withdrawal limits per transaction (~2-5 million VND) and fees depending on your home bank.
Always carry some cash, especially when traveling to remote beaches or smaller villages.
Credit Cards & E-Wallets
Cards accepted at larger hotels, high-end restaurants and resorts; more boutique/local shops and street food places often cash only.
Popular e-wallets: MoMo, ZaloPay, ViettelPay etc.—useful domestically but less common among small businesses in Phú Quốc.
Cryptocurrencies Payment
Crypto payment is not widely adopted in Phú Quốc. A handful of businesses, especially those run by young owners, may accept stablecoins like USDT via crypto wallet. If other payment methods (card, cash) fail or are declined, it’s possible to ask if crypto is accepted—but don’t expect it to be standard.
Tipping Culture
Rounding up the bill is typical (e.g. rounding a 490,000 VND bill to 500,000 VND or a 36,000 VND bill to 40,000 VND). Any tip is appreciated, and there is no fixed percentage commonly used.
Typical Daily Budget
This average spending includes hotel, food, transport, and activities:
Budget: ~ 500,000-800,000 VND/day (~20-30 USD)
Mid-range: ~ 1,000,000-2,000,000 VND/day (~40-80 USD)
Luxury: upwards of 3,000,000 VND/day (~110+ USD) depending on accommodation and dining choices
Other Payment Notes
Similar note designs: 20,000 VND and 500,000 VND bills can look similar in color; likewise, 10,000 VND and 200,000 VND share hues—pay attention to denomination markings.
Foreign currency usage: Most places accept USD and EUR notes; other currencies are accepted less frequently and usually only in high-end hotels or tourist facilities.
Taxes & service charges: Some restaurants or luxury facilities list prices excluding VAT (5-10%) or service charges (3-10%), so final bills may be higher.
Card fees: Some businesses charge extra (2-3% or more) when you pay by card to cover bank / transaction fees.